A 60-page report released by Natural Evolutions: One Hair Story, documents the dangers of the cosmetology industry.

From research conducted between 2009 to 2013 focused on the ingredients used in  products used by African-American women a study found that:

 “Girls who reported using chemical hair oils and hair perms were 1.4 times more likely to experience early puberty after adjusting for race, ethnicity, and year of birth. In addition, other studies have linked early puberty to hair detangler use by Black girls. In one of the studies African American girls as young as two years old started showing signs of puberty after using products containing animal placenta  found in many detanglers and conditioners.”

Additionally, formaldehyde, the same fluid used to embalm the deceased is a common substance found in many disinfectant products is used in salons, as well as embalming fluid. This substance also accounts for a number of health issues in Black women, especially those who work in the cosmetology industry and who are pregnant. According to a survey, formaldehyde is responsible for increased chances of miscarriages and respiratory issues for shops using products containing the compound.

Fibroids can be genetic, however, studies have shown that uterine fibroids can be linked to hair relaxers, a popular choice for many Black women.

The report also states:

 “A recent study by the American Journal of Epidemiology determined that the use of hair relaxers is linked to uterine fibroids in young Black women and girls, something that is estimated to affect 80% of Black women over their lifetime. Other studies have shown reproductive issues faced by hairdressers included increased risk of infertility and spontaneous abortion compared to other professions. This information becomes even more alarming when considering the fact that African American women have higher rates of miscarriages, low birth weights and infant death than any other group.”

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